Day 1: Departure from the city of Ushuaia.
Boarding takes place in the afternoon. Passengers will meet their expedition staff and speakers. After settling into your cabin, we will set sail for Antarctica, sailing through the famous Beagle Channel, via the Mackinlay Passage.
Days 2 and 3: Crossing the Drake Passage
The Drake Passage is a natural biological barrier, where the cold polar waters dip below the warmer waters of the north. It also marks the northern limit for many Antarctic seabirds. During the passage crossing, our staff will be on deck with passengers, helping to identify the huge variety of seabirds. There will be a full program of conferences.
The first icebergs and snow-capped mountains indicate the arrival at the South Shetland Islands. This is an archipelago of 20 islands and islets discovered in 1819 by Captain William Smith. If the weather conditions in the Drake Passage are favorable, on the third day our expedition staff will accompany the passengers on the first landing to experience together the fascinating encounter with penguins and seals.
Days 4 to 7: Discovering the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are full of wildlife: penguin colonies, Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals. Sailing through the narrow passage to the flooded caldera of Deception Island is an incredible experience.
King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands, is home to colonies of Gentoo and chinstrap penguins, kittiwakes, imperial cormorants, Antarctic terns and giant southern petrels. There are also scientific bases of different countries.
Passengers will have plenty of time to explore the stunning scenery, a pristine wilderness of snow, ice, mountains and waterways, as well as the variety of wildlife. Crabeater seals, humpback whales and killer whales can be seen in the region.
Depending on ice conditions, we may sail through the Gerlache Strait, the Neumayer Channel and the Lemaire Channel. The plan is to make at least two shore excursions per day.
Days 8 and 9: Crossing the Drake Passage
We will leave the Antarctic Peninsula and sail north across the Drake Passage. Speakers and staff naturalists will be on deck to join the passengers in discovering seabirds and whales, and to conduct the final conferences.
Day 10: Arrival in Ushuaia harbour
We will arrive in Ushuaia early in the morning. Disembarkation after breakfast.
REMARKS:
The itinerary may vary according to local weather, ice conditions and wildlife viewing opportunities. Efforts will always be made to facilitate the best results of the prevailing conditions. A daily schedule will be posted on board.
